23 arrested in heroin sting

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle announced Thursday the arrests of 23 people accused in a heroin smuggling ring.

A 13-month multi-agency investigation – “Project Deliverance” – resulted in the seizure of 80 pounds of heroin, $400,000 in cash, four guns and f4 pounds of methamphetamine. Mexico-based drug traffickers are alleged to have been behind the heroin ring.

Most of those charged are reported to have been Tacoma residents.

From a U.S. Attorney’s Office statement:

“This investigation strikes a blow against a dangerous scourge in our communities,” said United States Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “Yesterday, in just one residence, agents found 58 pounds of black tar heroin – a stunning indication of the massive amounts of poison this group was spreading. They operated almost like a pizza delivery business, using runners and dispatchers to get drugs out into multiple south Puget Sound communities.”

According to records filed in the case, the organization used various runners working with a ‘dispatcher’ to get drugs into the hands of customers. Drug customers from Lewis, Pierce, Kitsap, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties would call and order drugs. They would be given an intersection within a six square mile area of south Tacoma where they were to park. The dispatcher would take a description of the customer’s car. At the time of the meet, the drug runner’s car would drive slowly past the customer car signaling the customer to follow, the cars would proceed into a residential neighborhood, alert to any surveillance and make the drug transaction. Hundreds of thousands of dollars, proceeds of the drug trade, was being shipped to Mexico in hidden compartments built into vehicles. …

“This investigation strikes a blow against a dangerous scourge in our communities,” said United States Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “Yesterday, in just one residence, agents found 58 pounds of black tar heroin – a stunning indication of the massive amounts of poison this group was spreading. They operated almost like a pizza delivery business, using runners and dispatchers to get drugs out into multiple south Puget Sound communities.”